New Beverly Schools Superintendent Hire Targeted For April

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly Public Schools could have its next superintendent within the next seven weeks, according to a timeline School Committee Chair Rachael Abell laid out during Wednesday night's School Committee meeting.

Abell said the hope is to have the Screening Committee oriented by March 5, with applications closing on March 15. The Screening Committee would then determine the two to four finalists from March 17 through March 27, with School Committee interviews, school visits, and meetings with stakeholders taking place April 14 through April 16.

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That timeline would put the School Committee in position to vote on offering the job to a candidate on either April 17 or April 18.

Abell asked the School Committee members to block off the dates of April 14 through April 18 (which is Good Friday) for meetings, interviews and a potential vote to the extent that they can.

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She said there were 414 responses to a survey seeking traits, qualifications and qualities that would be ideal in the next superintendent.

The top responses included those involving students, schools, staff and teachers.

She said those responding expressed a preference for a candidate with classroom experience, a strong financial background and management experience.

"Overall communication skills, availability, advocacy for students, and honesty and integrity are the more sought-after skills," Abell said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)